Alfa Romeo Returns To America

It is perhaps fitting that the standard-issue police cruiser in Italy is an Alfa Romeo. Just imagine the twinges of envy that generates in the hearts of American cops.

Unfortunately for U.S. constables and citizens alike, the only way to drive a new Alfa Romeo is to head for Europe. Alfas aren't for sale in the U.S. at the moment--but that's going to change.

General Motors
bought a 20% stake* in
Fiat Motor
, the company that owns Alfa Romeo, in March 2000. With American marketing and sales muscle behind the company, Fiat is now poised to bring its next generation of Alfas to this country under GM auspices, and you can expect to see Alfas on sale through select Cadillac and Saab dealers by 2005.

Now we know what you're thinking: Alfa Romeos remind you of The Graduate--and of that Fix It Again, Tony (the acronym Fiat earned during earlier forays in the U.S.) reputation of the parent company.

But Fiat has won wide acclaim of late throughout Europe both for fantastic design and, believe it or not, for much-improved quality. So what's a current Fiat like to drive? We went to Milan to find out, and although we didn't get behind the wheel of the swanky Pininfarina-designed GTV/Spyder--the next edition of this car will be the first Alfa to arrive in the U.S.--we did get ample time in the upscale 166 sedan (slightly smaller than a Volkswagen Passat) and in the newer, $14,400-$18,600 147 two-door (competition for Ford's Focus).

*A previous version of this story mistakenly stated GM's stake in Fiat Motor.

Alfa Romeo 166 sedan

This is a sleek car. Except for the very front, the body is fluid and minimalist, lacking anything superfluous. The most noticeable feature of the 166 design is the shape of the hood, with its familiar V-shape that slopes toward the Alfa Romeo emblem just over the bumper. Although overall the new Alfas are more restrained than they have been in past years, there are still just enough curves to the body to keep heads turning.

Perhaps that's why, in Italy, the $28K-$33K Alfa 166 is seen as the cool car to have, both among the on-the-make yuppie crowd and with the more arty set. And why not? The 166, especially with the 225 horsepower V-6, is both serious and powerful enough to supply an aura of corporate gravitas and overtly "designed" enough to escort famous style mavens. In a country where bella figura (a good impression) is everything, the Alfa 166 provides that and then some.

In the city, the 166, which was introduced in 1998, is absolutely shudder- and bounce-free. And at high speeds--we were cruising on the autostrada at 105 mph for five minutes before even realizing it--the car is just as poised.

Indeed, with a top speed of between 132 and 147 mph (depending on the engine), the 166 is quite a performance machine, with front-wheel-drive being the largest limitation of pure sports car characteristics. Nonetheless, the 166's rack and pinion steering is precise, and its fully independent suspension combined with anti-lock brake system and anti-slip controls make for excellent driving manners and evoke a small-car feel that's more exciting than you might expect.

The most impressive moment Forbes.com spent with the 166 happened on the autostrada on a trip back to Milan from Como. In Italy, the left lane is reserved for passing; motorists traveling under 85 mph need not apply. For some reason, however, a car with Austrian plates made an emergency stop in the left lane, and we had to slam on the brakes of the 166 at 100 mph. The car came to a dead stop in a straight line with barely a stutter.

Still, you'd buy this car--and the one that replaces it--for more than sporting duty. On the inside, the 166 is uncluttered and roomy, about the size of a 3 Series BMW. It's not clear yet if the 166's successor will be any bigger, but American buyers won't be pleased with anything less. One thing's for certain: The trim level of the 166 is superb for the money.

The analog gauges--tach, fuel level, speedometer and oil pressure--are lovely for their simplicity. White figures sit on a matte black background, and each gauge interlocks the next like the Olympic Games logo. Most other cockpit features are just as leanly designed, with a simple leather-crowned shift knob riding on a brushed metal center console that also gets the climate control switches, all oversized.

The big eyesore is the computer monitor on the console that reflects all changes to climate, audio and satellite navigation. The computer is difficult to understand--this reviewer is fluent in Italian, and it wasn't a language barrier that stood in the way of clarity. This is an especially big hassle while trying to drive. Indeed, the computer system was a puzzling anomaly in a car whose most salient feature is its outstanding simplicity.

Alfa Romeo 147 Subcompact

Though a less impressive ride, the 147, which was introduced this year, has a more intriguing sculpted look. The two-door, not surprisingly, did not match the sedan's smoothness or comfort--the seats are cramped and difficult to adjust, an obvious flaw Alfa will have to fix before sending its cars stateside.

Nonetheless, advanced orders for the 147 in Europe have far exceeded expectations, and Fiat has had to add extra capacity to meet the demand.

The interior is sleek, but the cabin is small by American standards, and any 147 sold in the U.S. will need a more accommodating layout with more backseat room. The steering panel is also a bit busy, and the console features the same annoying computer panel on the 166.

Still, the car performed well in the city, gliding smoothly over sharp cobblestones and darting around narrow corners. Steering is as sharp as the 166, and with such a tossable, short wheelbase and wide 55-series tires, the 147 rewards aggressive driving. The 147 also shifts fluidly, and whether driven by the 16-valve 2.0-liter in-line four or the high-mileage 1.9-liter turbocharged diesel, the 147 has plenty of low-end torque for both city and freeway acceleration.

However, from a dead start, 0-60 mph times scrape only nine seconds, which is likely too slow to compete in the U.S. for buyers of Ford's Focus or VW's Golf. Especially when the next generation of the Golf arrives here in 2003, at which time it's expected to be bigger and more sophisticated, and will make it tough on any Alfa trying to keep up.

Except, of course, on looks, where the aggressively sexy 147, with its triangular, shield-shaped grille, bests any small econbox on the planet.

Put another way, versus a Honda Civic, the Alfa is miles more stylish. But then everyone knew Alfa would come back in style. Now that there's some substance, too, we think Alfa Romeo will come back strong in America. Even off-duty cops will want them.